Sir Keir Starmer has brushed off Donald Trump's taunt that he is "no Winston Churchill", insisting that the UK's support for US military action from British bases demonstrates the strength of the special relationship. The prime minister's response came during Prime Minister's Questions, where he rejected Conservative criticism that his approach to Iran had damaged ties with Washington.
Trump launched a volley of attacks in recent days, telling the Daily Telegraph that Starmer "took far too long" to allow US forces to use UK airbases, and later telling the Sun that the prime minister "has not been helpful". He then added witheringly to reporters: "This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with." In previous eras such criticism would have prompted deep soul-searching in Downing Street, but Starmer appears confident in his path.
Observers point to three reasons for his ease. Trump's opinions are notoriously changeable, having previously lavished praise on Starmer's political judgment and "beautiful" accent. Public opinion also favours a cautious approach, with a YouGov poll showing fairly strong opposition to the overall US operation in Iran and slight opposition to allowing US aircraft to use British bases for strikes. Finally, Downing Street sources insist the prime minister is acting in Britain's interest to protect British people, rather than simply managing Trump.
While Starmer has sought to build rapport with the US president, including delivering a letter from King Charles inviting an unprecedented second state visit, there have been clear red lines. He has condemned Trump's inaccurate criticisms of Sadiq Khan, and in January branded Trump's comments about British soldiers in Afghanistan as "insulting and frankly appalling", calling for an apology. The approach, though unconventional, mirrors how other US allies operate, as none have found a way to keep Trump consistently onside.
